So a ton in Congress -including Republicans and Democrats alike,

[ColinC]

...have expressed strong desires to -at the very least provide stronger support to Ukraine including through providing drones and jets. If the Biden administration is hesitant in this regard, can or should Congress use it's power to force the US into providing such support? Or would such attempt even be successful?

[SoonerPride]

1. No.

[ColinC]

2. No, what?

Congress should not be involved in making this decision, or they would not likely be supportive of such an effort?

[SoonerPride]

8. No Congress shouldn't declare war on Russia

[ColinC]

10. Not the question.

Giving additional arms (as we have been doing) is far from declaring war on Russia. I'm just asking if Congress should be more involved in deciding what aid and how much is given.

[BlueIdaho]

3. Congress needs to be involved.

We need to re-establish regular order including the war powers act. One of congress’ duties it has been awol from since the beginning of the Iraq war.

[ColinC]

5. Agreed.

They shouldn't just be leaving this decision entirely to the president. Congress people giving hot takes is far from even close to where congress's involvement should be.

[BlueIdaho]

19. It's how our government is supposed to work.

If Congress critters want to play political games with a European conflict - they will have blood on their hands. Never should any President, no matter how smart or kind be able to unleash our military weapons on any other country.

Trump wold have loved having that much power during a hot European war. Thank god he doesn’t.

[ColinC]

33. Absolutely!

[bottomofthehill]

31. Congress is involved. They appropriate the funds to buy

The equipment they give away.

[ColinC]

34. If there is a strong desire by congress for the US to be more involved, they have the right

and authority to push for it, or even force it to happen.

The executive -despite what it has seemed, does not actually have the constitutional authority to declare war. Congress, on the other had, does.

[bottomofthehill]

38. Absolutely no question, article 1 congress declares war

That said, once declared it becomes an article 2 issue. Congress could declare war on Russia tomorrow and the executive branch could still decide to fight it via proxy exactly the way it is going now.

[ColinC]

39. Depends on how they do it. If they pass a veto proof bill, the executive has

to follow through accordingly. That being said, I imagine if Congress is more involved, they would increase the way it is being done by proxy -more weapons, plus planes and drones being sent. And maybe, but still a long shot - a partial no fly zone in the west.

[Budi]

4. God no. Biden is in touch with generals & world leaders & its his call. its his final decision.

Force nothing, but ffs approve it full on when he requests it.

[notinkansas]

21. Can you even imagine - with some of the yahoos in the repub party -

giving them that kind of authority? Yikes!

[Budi]

23. Nope. That'd be a horrible decision damn.

[ColinC]

35. Congress already has that authority via the constitution

But of course, Democrats control congress so whatever passes would have their support primarily.

[notinkansas]

40. While Congress as a whole does have the authority,

my thinking was more along the lines of these yahoos don't possess enough common sense to be allowed to cast votes on anything!

[hamsterjill]

6. I believe the Biden administration will come around.

We are already in this war. It’s just a matter of time until we admit it.

[Sherman A1]

7. How does Congress do this?

By what means do they force the Executive branch to do so?

[Budi]

12. I wouldn't trust them all to have the foreign policy chops to make that decision.

Some, certainly. Biden, absolutely.

[ColinC]

13. Passing a bill.

And overriding a veto (if necessary).

[Sherman A1]

14. That needs to be signed by the Executive.

or vetoed by the same Executive.

[ColinC]

15. Again, an override is likely possible

Given the strong support expressed so far by both sides in Congress.

[Sherman A1]

16. I wouldn't count on that

not at all.

[ColinC]

18. Well Biden has already asked for 10b from congress

I guess this is an opportunity for them to provide it with or without strings attached.

[Sherman A1]

20. Again

I wouldn't count on it.

[ColinC]

22. You don't think Congress will pass the package that is being asked for?

Or you think that Congress will not give their input or attach any requirements onto that package? A major role of Congress is to make major decisions involving the military. The president should never unilaterally be making these decisions.

[Sherman A1]

28. I do not believe that much will be accomplished

This is a very divided Congress last time I checked.

[ColinC]

30. But seemingly united on Ukraine. We shall see.

[tritsofme]

36. If the strings you describe in your OP were attached, it would force Biden

into a very uncomfortable situation of having to consider a Bush style signing statement declaring his constitutional objections.

Luckily, Democratic leaders would never let it get that far.

[ColinC]

37. One Democratic leader, Ted Lieu, seems to want these things done

Link to tweet

?cxt=HHwWhICqyc-zt9ApAAAA

We will see how the meeting with Zelensky and the Senate goes tomorrow.

[Chainfire]

9. You know, I think that some people just don't get that changing jets

Is not like getting out of your Kia and into a Ford. It takes time to learn new weapons system, new cockpits, new procedures. Drones I can see, who knows if the guy flying the drone is in Ukraine or Kansas. I agree that the big convoy needs a healthy dose of Hellfires, but these things have to be done very delicately....

[Caliman73]

27. I have had that same thought

A lot of people seem to think that we can send F-35's and F-22's and the Ukrainians can learn to fly them over the weekend. There was the rumor (turned out to be false) that some of the Baltic states were providing them with weapons systems with which they had experience MiGs and Su's. You can learn to use a Stinger in a couple of hours and a Javelin system in a couple of days, but any or our aircraft is looking at months to get okay with and years to get good at.

Ukrainians seem to be doing some good damage with the Turkish drones they have been provided.

[abqtommy]

11. Sorry, I can't trust ANY reTHUGlican to do anything productive. I trust President

Nato Joe Biden to do what's best, too. We'll all see in real time how things play out. We've
all got to support Ukraine the best way we know, but I exclude the opportunistic reTHUGS
from that. They're Fascist Scum.

[PortTack]

17. For the nay sayers, this is better than having them resist at every turn- money, equipment and

Supplies for Ukraine

[Caliman73]

24. Military intervention and foreign policy are typically the purview of the Executive Branch.

Congress can legislate a package of funding for interventions, but I would imagine that the President would be able to veto the legislation.

A veto however, might make the President look weak on foreign policy.

I suspect that there would be a lot of hesitance from Congress, especially as it is Democratically lead, to go against the President from their own party.

[acantharchus]

25. The US needs to go to war to stop this war on Ukrainians. nt

[Sherman A1]

29. Be very careful what you wish for

of the world could look like this..........

[sarisataka]

26. The power Congress has is found in

Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11